On ESPN’s NBA Countdown Friday night, Michael Wilbon rekindled talk of a potential LeBron James trade to the Golden State Warriors.
Within about 90 seconds, NBA Countdown analyst Brian Windhorst shot down the idea.
Wilbon’s proposal is certainly nothing new. ESPN reported early this year that the Warriors had tried to convince the Los Angeles Lakers and James to work out a deal. Wilbon, however, is still enamored with James joining longtime rival and Team USA teammate Steph Curry.
“Steph and Draymond (Green) are in their mid-30s … we’re talking about guys who want to, I’m sure, win now,” Wilbon said. “[The Warriors] do things big, when you’ve won four championships, the only way to get bigger is to put the best, shiniest, brightest, most substantive piece you can put on that team.
“We just saw them play together. I’m sorry. This is an easy answer. … it’s LeBron James.”
“We just saw them play together. I’m sorry. This is an easy answer. Perk, elbow me if I’f I’m wrong…it’s LeBron James.”
Michael Wilbon explains why the Warriors should trade for LeBron James. pic.twitter.com/EFeOcCvZsd
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) December 7, 2024
Wilbon then pitched the proposal to Windhorst.
“So this has to be carefully, skillfully done,” Wilbon said. “Our dear friend to the right, Mr. Windhorst, is going to tell us how that can happen.”
Windhorst proceeded to explain how such a trade could not, or at least, probably would not, happen.
“I would be lying if I said there hasn’t been some conversations in the league, would LeBron at some point this year revisit that,” Windhorst said. “I just want to say a couple of things. First off, any trade that the Warriors make is going to be complicated. They have only $500,000 that they’re allowed to spend [in additional salary cap]. Any trade that they make, they really can’t take on more money. Guess what? The Lakers are not allowed to take on any money.”
“It’s possible if LeBron wanted it. Also, LeBron has a no-trade clause. Also-also, the Lakers don’t know when their first-round pick (falls).
“I would just say that twice in the last 10 months LeBron has had an opportunity to leave the Lakers … I understand what you’re saying, Wilbon, that you don’t think the Lakers are going anywhere this year, but LeBron has repeatedly made it clear: He wants to be a Laker and if that’s the case, he’s got a no-trade clause, and there’s nothing really to talk about.”
Kendrick Perkins jumped into the debate, saying James expected more out of the Lakers this season and might be ready to move on.
“He knew exactly what the roster was going to be,” Windhorst said.
Brian Windhorst pours some cold water on the idea, detailing how tough that trade would be. pic.twitter.com/YM1CgG0hM3
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) December 7, 2024
“The reality of it, Brian, is he’s not guessing, or projecting — he’s in it, they’re not any good,” Wilbon said. “So LeBron’s just going to ride it out with this group?”
“Your point is excellent, his actions say, ‘I want to be a Laker,'” Windhorst concluded.
That was a great debate on a big topic.
[NBA Countdown]
